Read "The Ramayan" by Valmiki online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Then round the helpless Sita drew With fiery eyes the hideous crew, And thus assailed her, all and each, With insult, taunt, and threatening speech: "What! can it be thou prizest not This happy chance, this glorious lot, To be the chosen wife of one So strong and great, Pulastya's son? Pulastya--thus have sages told-- Is mid the Lords of Life enrolled. Lord Brahma's mind-born son was he, Fourth of that glorious company. Visravas from Pulastya sprang,-- Through all the worlds his glory rang. And of Visravas, large-eyed dame! Our king the mighty Ravan came. His happy consort thou mayst be: Scorn not the words we say to thee."
One awful demon, fiery-eyed, Stood by the Maithil queen and cried: 'Come and be his, if thou art wise, Who smote the sovereign of the skies, And made the thirty Gods and three, O'ercome in furious battle, flee. Thy lover turns away with scorn From wives whom grace and youth adorn. Thou art his chosen consort, thou Shall be his pride and darling now."